Caught by Surprise (22 page)

“No!”

“The hell you don’t,” he muttered, and kissed her. He tilted his head and kissed her again, his mouth open, his tongue expert and wanton as it probed between her damp lips.

He arched his body against hers, and the solid, overwhelming presence made her squirm. He pressed the advantage until he lay between her thighs, chaperoned by the silky material of her dress.

Millie whimpered with the knowledge that despite the problems between them, he still wanted her as much as she wanted him—at least in this way. It was a bond, a beginning. She opened her mouth and took the hard thrust of his tongue, met it with her own, and twisted her mouth against his as if she could drink him.

He pulled back, his face ruddy with passion, his eyes hooded, the crook of his mouth showing victory. “Say it,” he ordered. “You want to be dependent on me.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want you to dislike me for being weak.”

He cursed. “But it’s all right for you to protect
me
. It’s all right for you to risk your life to take care of
me
. You want me to be dependent on you, but not the other way around, eh?”

Millie blinked in shock. “I suppose I do,” she said desperately.

“You want me to be helpless without you.”

“No! That’s not how I think of it.”

“Then what makes it different from you bein’ helpless without me?”

“You’re confusing me.” She writhed under him. “Let me up.”

He only levered his body against hers so that she was pinned more effectively. “You can’t always get your way, see? You can’t always be the toughest or the strongest. You can’t always be independent. Sometimes you just have to be plain helpless, Melisande.”

She stopped struggling and looked up at him like a cat ready to spit. “I can’t be that way.”

“You’re that way right now, love. Completely helpless. At my mercy.”

He bent his head and kissed her neck, tugging the warm skin between his lips. Sensations swirled outward, and she arched her neck with pleasure. Tears stung her eyes at the involuntary way her body strained upwards. “Stop, Brig,” she whispered. “Please.”

“He lifted his head and gazed down at her. “Is it so bad to be helpless?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think I dislike you for being helpless right now?” His voice was strained.

“I don’t know what you think,” she murmured.

His expression was so intense he almost seemed to be in pain. He reached between them and jerked her skirt upward. Cool air touched her thighs and the region still covered by her white cotton panties. Suddenly she felt his sex through the soft material of his pants, pressing rigidly against her.

“Is this
dislike
I’m showin’ you?” he demanded. “Right now we’re both helpless. See, Melisande, I’m willing to admit that I need you.”

Millie understood finally, and nodded. Her mouth trembled as she fought for control. “But things are different when we’re not in bed,” she managed.

He shut his eyes, exasperation etched on his face. “
Strewth
! Then we’ll get out of bed.” Brig vaulted up and pulled her out of the bunk. Her face was deeply flushed, and she gazed at him with torment in her eyes. “Try to explain things to me now,” he ordered.

“We’re fine together in bed, and you know why,” Millie rebuked. “I’ve never
humiliated
you in bed.”

He put his hands on his hips and gave her a bewildered, disgruntled look. “And when have you humiliated me out of bed?”

She blinked in shock. “Birmingham, of course.”

Brig frowned. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“Oh, Brig, dammit!” she exploded in frustration. “Quit pretending! You didn’t want everyone to know that your girlfriend’s part commando and part Amazon! I made you a laughing stock!”

“People were impressed. They were laughing with me, not at me. Only trouble was, I wasn’t laughing.” He paused, studying her shrewdly. “Is that what you think? That I was ashamed of what you did?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“What?”

“My God, Melisande, I’m mad as hell and hurt with you, but I’m prouder than ever.”

After a stunned moment, she gestured weakly toward him and struggled for words. “You were proud of me? I didn’t know. That’s why I left you.”

“Well, well. Your brother was right.”

“My brother?”

He quickly told her about meeting Jeopard in Nashville. “Jep said you kids were taught never to show how bad you hurt. That’s when I realized that I’d been too hard on you in the hospital. I thought you were just bein’ stubborn.”

Looking distressed, she sank to the edge of the bed in a cloud of green silk. Her voice was low and weary. “Then what is this all about, Brig?” She waved around her, indicating his kidnapping ploy.

He chuckled tensely. “To prove that we’re in the same boat.”

Millie shook her head. “I can’t be what you want. I can’t promise I won’t defend you when you don’t want to be defended. The chances I take may upset you. You see that now, don’t you?”

He gazed at her while new wrath built inside him. He braced both legs apart, shook clenched fists into the air, and said loudly, “All I see is a woman who’s too proud to admit she needs me!”

“Is that the only thing you care about?” Her voice rose and became ferocious. “All right! I can’t help myself! I need you!” Shaking, she leaped to her feet. “I need your strength! I need your humor! I need to feel protected sometimes, and you know how to protect me without making me feel incompetent! You’re the only man in the world who makes me feel delicate! With you, I can be who I am! But can you deal with that?”

Relief flooded him, chasing away his anger and leaving him drunk with happiness. She gazed at him defensively, and he let her wind down for about five seconds before he smiled calmly. “I’m glad we got your problem settled.”

“Nothing’s settled!”

“As long as you’re willing to admit that you need me, I can deal with anything you do.” His tone was cocky.
“I figure that I can calm down your violent ways. It may take me years, but I’ll keep workin’ on it. And you can work on me. Maybe we’ll both get peaceful.” He pointed a finger at her in reproach. “But you can’t expect me not to get mad when you don’t do what I tell you.”

“I love you too much to swear that I won’t cause trouble if someone threatens you. No more promises.”

“Aw, to hell with promises.” He sighed grandly and his accent deepened. “I’ll take me chances.”

“I do need you,” she repeated plaintively. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

He laughed then, the sound rich and happy. “
Strewth
, Melly. I’m going to teach you to need me
more.
”

“I couldn’t possibly need you more than I already do.”

His eyes darkened, and his voice became seductive. “Oh, yes, you could.”

He stepped forward and put his hands on her waist. The alert set of his body made her think of a primitive male animal cautiously closing in on a female that might need persuasion. The confident, challenging look on his face provoked her to resist. Millie raised her chin and eyed him calmly.

“So you think you can have your way with me, Captain McKay?”

“Anytime I want.”

“You may have dragged me aboard your ship, but you’ll never force me to make love with you.”

A sexy and sinister smile tilted his mouth. “It won’t be force, me pretty.”

He jerked her close to him and clasped her in his arms. Millie stared up at him through half-shut eyes and shivered with emotion. She hadn’t ruined anything between them after all. Brig could accept her as she was, and he wanted her more than ever. “Oh. Captain,” she murmured gently. “You’re going to compromise me.”

Brig molded a hand to the curve of her back and stroked downward to her hips. He grasped her rump suddenly and rubbed, pulling her closer to him as he did. “Compromise. Is that what I’m about to do to you?”

“I’ve led a sheltered life. I have no idea what you will do with me, Captain.”

His eyes were hooded with desire, his breathing a little rough. “I’ll show you, m’lady.”

He buried his nose in the soft blond hair at her temple, then trailed light kisses down the side of her face. He still cupped her hips with one hand. The other rose to her head and sank into her hair. Pulling her head back, he continued kissing her, letting his mouth follow the curve of her throat. Millie felt her breasts strain against the low-cut gown as she exhaled raggedly.

“That sight tempts my jolly Roger,” he said coyly. He bent her back a little further and kissed the soft top curves that spilled over the gown’s neckline. Guttural sounds of appreciation rumbled from his throat.

Millie pushed lightly at his shoulders, but his skilled attention had drained her of the energy for much playful resistance. “You
must
stop,” she protested in an airy tone.

“I’m the captain here. I can do anything I want with you.”

“You shock me, sir.”

He raised his head and blew softly on her lips, his breath hot. “I’ll shock you more before I’m done.”

His mouth covered hers with easy possessiveness, leaving her weak-kneed and hungry. Millie kissed him back with sudden abandon, twisting her mouth into his and darting her tongue along his lips. She pulled back to whisper, “You ake advantage of a lady’s baser passions.”

“Aye, and I’m good at it too.” He brushed his mouth over hers as he picked her up and placed her on the bunk. Brig lay down beside her and caressed her breasts through the gown. “Gets in the way, this dress.”

“You’re not suggesting that I disrobe!”

“Nah.” Smiling devilishly, he reached under her and caught the zipper between his fingers. “I’ll do it for you.”

With quick, impatient movements he tugged the zipper down. The bodice gaped loosely, allowing his fingers easy access. His eyes gleaming with desire, he
pushed the green silk off her shoulders and slowly uncovered her breasts. Millie whimpered with pleasure.

“Well, what have we here?” he asked coyly, while his fingers circled the tight peaks. “Here’s evidence, m’lady, that you like a pirate’s touch.”

She sighed dramatically. “I can’t control my willful body.”

“Oh? Let me see how willful the rest of it is.”

While she clasped at her nakedness and protested firmly, he got on his knees and stripped the gown down her legs.

“Barefoot, are you? And wearin’ nothing but panties. A willful body indeed.” He removed the panties and continued to kneel beside her, studying her with obvious enjoyment.

“You are no gentleman.”

“ ’Fraid you’re right. No gentleman would do this.”

He tangled his fingers in the blond curls between her thighs. Her legs shifted languidly. “No lady would like it so much,” he noted with a wicked chuckle. His voice became serious and gruff. “But maybe some ladies are more sensible than others.”

Millie looked at him solemnly. She could feel a mist of desire rising on her breasts and stomach. “I’m very sensible, Captain.”

He made a growling sound of happiness. “Not frightened by crocodiles, are you?”

She feigned innocence. “Whatever can you mean?”

“This.” He stood beside the bed and began undressing himself. The black boots went flying. The shirt was tossed without a second look. His gaze holding hers, Brig slid his knee britches down and kicked them aside.

Hearty appreciation flickered in her eyes. “It hardly looks like a crocodile. And it looks somewhat, well,
lonely.
”

Laughing softly, he lowered himself on top of her and nibbled her breasts. “M’lady, do you have sympathy for it?”

“I’m a tenderhearted woman.” She paused, luxuriating in the feel of his strong, hard body pressing hers
into the bunk’s satin coverlet. “Tell me, pirate, is this what I should do?” She drew her knees up so that her thighs could squeeze his hips.

His voice was throaty, tender. “That’s a temptin’ way to cure my loneliness.”

“Mine too.” She touched his face gently, skimming her fingers over the rugged angles, feeling him shudder with restraint. Suddenly the game was over. Happiness caught in the back of her throat, and she gave him a teary smile. “Oh, Brig. Oh, Brig.”

The world of love in her voice made him exhale sharply. “You’re tryin’ me patience.”

“No patience necessary.”

“Don’t move like that, temptress.”

“Like that?”

“
Melisande.
” After a moment, he said much softer, “Melisande, don’t stop.”

Much later, he left her napping on the bunk, her hair tossled about her face, and her hands curled under her chin. Brig moved about the cabin, humming under his breath. When he returned to the bunk, he caressed her face tenderly.

She stretched, opened her eyes, and gazed up at him with sleepy devotion. Brig took one of her hands, kissed it, then cupped it over his heart. Her small, lithe fingers stroked his skin reverently.

“Now Melisande, you listen and try to keep an open mind. Will you give up your job and move to Nashville?”

“Sure.” She smiled.

He looked at her askance. “No argument? You’re givin’ me no argument?”

“None. But I’ll keep my land and house in Paradise Springs. Maybe Jeopard or Kyle will want to live there someday.”

“Fine.” Still prepared for conflict, he frowned at her and spoke firmly. “And whatever kind of work you want to do in Nashville, it won’t be so dangerous that my hair turns gray.”

“If you’ll take me along when you tour, I’ll have the perfect job.”

This was going much too easily. “Of course I’ll take you along … what job?”

She sighed happily. “Your bodyguard.”

“Ah hah. I knew there was a catch.”

“I have to keep you out of trouble.”

“Woman, you
cause
trouble,” he grumbled, but his eyes were amused. “And I’m stuck with you. All right, you’ll be my bodyguard.” He slipped something over her third finger.

Millie raised her head slowly and stared at the large diamond glittering on her hand. “Pirate booty?”

“I raided Tiffany’s.” Their eyes met. “Will you marry me, Melisande?”

The expression in her eyes said that she adored him. “Yes, Captain.” She wrapped both arms around his neck. Between fervent kisses she repeated, “Oh, yes, Captain. Brig, yes. I love you.”